Punishment in the final stretch

A final quarter marked by a decisive initial quarter condemns three notable first quarters for the Girona team (94-81)

First Team | Sunday, 22 March 2026

The match started with difficulties for the visitors, who quickly found themselves 2-7 down. However, Geben emerged strongly, taking on the offensive role and scoring 7 points in the first few minutes. Good defense allowed the rivals to be held to just 6 points in the 5th minute, and the team managed to turn the tide to reach a 12-19 lead, with 9 points from Geben himself and the maximum difference in the first quarter.

In the second period, the visitors came out with a good rhythm and signed a 2-6 run that consolidated the advantage. However, Baskonia reacted and, after coming close to only one point on two occasions, managed to get ahead for the first time (33-32). The answer was not long in coming: a strong 0-10 run, with three-pointers from Geben and Ferrando, gave the visitors some breathing room again. Two free throws from the Lithuanian center increased his personal score to 16 points, with a rating of 21, and placed the score at 33-42 (+9). However, the locals cut the gap before the break, led by Luwawu-Cabarrot, who with 6 consecutive points adjusted the result to 43-44.

The tie remained in the second half. An early three-pointer by Baskonia put them ahead again (46-44), but the answer came quickly with a three-pointer by Pep that restored the visitors’ advantage (51-53). The match entered a phase of alternations, with a 7-0 run by the locals that complicated the situation again. Even so, the visitors resisted and, with a 0-5 run, managed to tie the match at 67 at the end of the third quarter.

In the last period everything was decided. Despite the initial tie, Baskonia imposed its rhythm with a devastating 17-2 run that definitively broke the match, reaching a maximum difference of +15 (86-71). The fouls in this final stretch made any attempt at reaction difficult, and the dominance of the rebound by the Basques (38-29) ended up being decisive in tipping the balance. An outcome that was too harsh for the merits shown during a good part of the match by the visitors.